Over 20 boda boda riders remanded as police reacts to Museveni directive on recklessness

Twenty five boda boda riders have been remanded to Luzira by Buganda road magistrate’s court after being arrested over a number of traffic offences.

On Friday, President Yoweri Museveni directed police to enforce the traffic code especially on recklessness exhibited by boda boda riders and taxi drivers while on the road.

Police on Monday morning cracked down on motorists arresting over 50 of them and impounding their vehicles.

In the afternoon, twenty five riders were arraigned before Buganda Road magistrate’s court but could not be charged due to absence of state prosecutors.

“You are appearing here due to different charges but we can’t read them to you because we are out of time. The files have just been brought from police and the prosecutors are not around,” Grade one magistrate Samuel Kagoda told the suspects.

He however said they would be remanded up to Tuesday for the charges to be read to each of them and they also take plea.

Speaking at the liberation day celebrations at Boma grounds in Arua last week, president Museveni directed the police to get stricter on offenders of traffic guidelines especially boda bodas and taxis.

“I have heard many foreigners complain of reckless drivers in Uganda which is bad.Police must insist on the proper road code,”Museveni said.

http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/01/26/museveni-directs-police-on-boda-boda-riders-taxi-drivers-over-recklessness/

He cited boda bodas that always ride on the side and pavements disrupting pedestrians, adding that such indiscipline on the road will scare away foreigners from Uganda.

“The side walk is for pedestrians and nobody else.We should enhance our reputation internationally that Uganda is safe, stable and the society is disciplined,”Museveni noted.

The Ministry of Works and Transport report for the year 2016/17 released last year indicated that deaths on Ugandan roads had increased as 9572 had died in the previous three years.

At least 200 people died on Ugandan roads last year according to records.

According to statistics from Mulago hospital, the largest percentage of victims admitted are due to accidents from boda bodas.

Addressing the weekly press briefing in Kampala, police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said they have started acting on the directive by the president.

“The Kampala Metropolitan commander will start by sensitising the motorists and also teach them the highway code,”Kayima said.